The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-06-15

| ordered to be prepared Tor ner ABOUT
eleven o'clock. She had grown rapid
ly and violently sick as soon as she had
drunk it, and an investigation of the
vessel which had contained the tea had
revealed to the doctors experienced
eyes traces of a vegetable poison which
he knew, and for which there was no
| antidote
1t could not be shown that Fred
Dusenbury had been near the tea at
! all, either in the kitchen where it was
made, on it's way to his stepmother's
room. or after it reached its destina-
| ton.
There had been no strangers at the
house that day, except a pedler, who
had indeed been in the kitchen at the
very time the housekeeper, Mrs. Ann
Shapley. was overseeing the making of
the fatal tea.
Many suspected the pedlar for a
| time, and he was sought for, but not
found.
The matter continued envelopcd in
profound mystery. But there remain
ed the charge of the woman who was
dead. She had died accusing Fred
Dusenbury, and her words We're re-
membered.
1t was well known that she had al
ways hated Fred, and been jealous of
him because he would succeed to the
property after her, though he could not
touch it during life.
All the good that had been known
| of Fred heretofore, and it was much,
counted as nothing beside that dying
| accusation of Mrs. Dusenbury's. Peo-
pie generally looked very coldly at
poor Fred, or else did not look at him
at all.
Bitterly now did Camilla regret her
promise to the dead woman.
But Fred would not have let her
break it had she wished to. Her love
and faith in him were his one consola-
ton, but he had no desire TO make her
his wife while that cloud of suspicion
and shame was over him.
He went away at last-left the town
and six weeks after word came that
he was dead.
A man had been found shot in some
woods. whose clothing was marked
'.F. Dusenbury," and some letters on
his person were addressed Fred Dusen-
bury. with the name of the town in
which he lived Poor Fred,
1t was generally believed that he had
shot himself. But Camilla Ladd
thought differently.
In due time an heir to the Dusen-
bury property presented himself.
He was distant cousin. His name
was Stephen Dering. He was a man
of mddle-age, a bachelor, and rather
handsome.
keeping for Mrs. Dusenbury was still
in charge of the house, and Dering
kept her after he came, hiring also
whatever other servants were needed.
He refurnished the house in lavish
style, and seemed to enjoy his new pos
sessions.
Ann Shapley, the housekeeper, was
good-looking woman of about thirty,
and had some education. But she was
a person of no refinement, and the de-
ference with which it was soon remark
ed Dering treated her excited much
comment and wonder.
poor Fred Dusenbury, just as if she had
been his wife.
She was lovelier than ever.
Stephen Dering saw her one day,
and asked a friend to introduce him.
Camilla received him coldly at first,
but afterwards grew more cordial.
Dering was charmed with her beauty;
and when he found she had money too,
quite fortune of her own, fell in love
with her Immediately, or seemed to.
As soon as he dared he asked her to
marry him.
Camilla did not look displeased, but
she did not say yes at once.
'sIf you will come to me tomorrow
evening, Mr.. Dering,' she said, Il
will give you your answer.
Mr. Dering consented, and, at the
appointed time, made his appearance,
looking like man who felt pretty safe
| about his answer.
Camilla received him with dignity,
and gave him seat near the door
which was slightly ajar; but he did not
notice that.
'.You asked me to be your wife, yes
terday-did you not, Mr.. Dering?'
said Camilla.
Il did. repeat it now VIII you
be my wife, Miss Ladd?'
"a man should love the woman he
marries better than any other woman
in the world" said Camilla, looking at
him.
HE should. l never loved any wo-
man in my life except you," returned
Stephen Dering boldly.
"But you have promised to marry
another
cit is false!'' he cried, starting from
his chair, and then sitting down again
quickly. Il beg your pardon, Miss
Ladd. But whoever told you such a
thing, lied"
..Have you not given your house
keeper, Mrs. Ann Shapley, reason to
think you meant to marry her?"
..Nevert' but he turned white.
The door beside him opened as the
word left his mouth, and Ann Shapley
herself came in, and stood glaring at
him with swapping eyes and flushed
face.
..All right, Mr.. Pedlar," she said,
and shut her lips, and folded her arms.
| Dering's face was like ashes.
81 was only joking, Ann" he whis-
pered hurriedly.
..oh, were you, indeed?" returned
Ann scornfully. you've joked once
| too often, Mr. Pedlar, this times" and
she nodded to Camilla. who went and
opened door opposite the one near
which Ann stood.
Three men came in. The first was
Fred Dusenbury, alive and well.
Dering glanced once at him, and
| then at the others, and made a rush
for window; but he was not quick
enough.
The two men who had followed Fred
in threw themselves upon him, and
after n desperate struggle secured him.
Ann Shapley approached him as he
stood gasping and strengthless. with
irons on his hands.
IF YOU d kept your word to me,
she said, ..this wouldn't have happen
ed; though the Lord knows" she add
ed to the others, IF he hadn't made
me believe he didn't know anything
about the poisoning, L never would
have listened to him minute / knew
he was the pedlar by his hand -
One finger of Dering's right hand
was stiff from some injury, so that he
could not shut it
Camilla and Fred, in the absence o.
all other objects of suspicion, had sus
pected the pedlar from the first. and
| the harder he was to find the more
they suspected him. At last Fred hac
gone himself in search of him.
The finding of the body of beggal